Barrel



N0. 6ll,532. Patented Sept. 27, I898. M. H. TILGHMAN.-

BARREL.

(Application filed July 27, 1898.)

(No Model.)

A TTOHNEYS we 1 STATES I Arum lune.

BA-RREL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 611,532, dated September 27, 1898.

Application filed July 27, 1898. Serial NO- 687,008. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, MERRILL I-I. TILGI-IMAN, residing at Norfolk, in thecounty of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Barrels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in barrels, seeking especially to provide the same with a head which is secured in the barrel prior to filling the same, is. adapted to permit the filling of the barrel with garden trucksuch as cabbage, potatoes, and the likeand can be conveniently and securely closed to properly secure the truck, and to so construct the barrel-head as to facilitate the application of the bottom and head of the barrel, as will be more fully described.

The invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, and Fig. 2 is atop plan view, of a barrel embodying my invention; and Fig. 3 is a detail view of the head.

In the shipping of truck much difficulty is experienced in conveniently securing the mouth of the barrel in order to retain the truck, and burlap is commonly employed to cover the mouth of the barrel, being nailed around the edge of the barrel, but is objectionable because of the expense, the insecurity of the closure, the difficulty of properly applying and securing it, and the injury resulting to the contents of the barrel by the bruising of that portion next to the burlap by contact with other barrels or freight.

By my invention I seek to so construct the barrel and its head that the truck may be readily inserted in the barrel and the closure be effected in a simple inexpensive manner.

My improvement also braces the mouth of the barrel against radial compression, and thus prevents injury to the contents of the barrel.

ThebodyAof the barrel may be of any suitable construction; but I prefer that shown, wherein the barrel is formed of inner and outer sets of splints B,which cross each other diagonally and are suitably secured to the supporting hoops. This barrel is provided at or near its ends with internalhoops O and D,

the sections at the ends of the opening.

the former near the mouth of the barrel and the latter near its lower end. The bottom E is arranged above and bears against the upper edge of the lower hoop D, being suitably secured, preferably, by means of nails driven through the sides of the barrel into the edges of the bottom, as shown. In applying this bottom it is usual to insert it in the barrel and then invert the latter over an upright post, upon which the bottom rests while being forced to position against the shoulder D.

The head of my barrel is of a special construction, such head F being in the form of an annulus whose center is open at F and is adapted to permit the insertion of cabbage, cantaloups, and other truck and to be closed .bya suitable cross strip or slat, as will be uncurved at their outer sides at I, and have their inner edges spaced apart to form the opening F. This opening F'is approximatelyrectangular and is elongated to facilitate theinsertion of truck and to permit it to be properly closed by a strip J, crossing the opening F in the direction of its elongation and secured to In the construction shown the sections H H overlie the ends of the sections G, and the strip J overlies and is nailed to the sections II and to the sides of the barrel, thus securing a strong construction and one which will properly retain the contents of the barrel. This head is seated against the under side of the upper hoop G and is usually secured, like the bottom, by nailing through the sides of the barrel into the edge of the head.

In constructing the barrel the head is ap plied and secured before the bottom, the open lower end of the barrel-body permitting the head to be forced in position by fitting the barrel-body over a post, so the-latter may be utilized in forcing the head to position. Now

if the head were imperforate, as is usual, the bottom could not be secured in the manner before described; but the opening F in the head F permits the passage of the upright post and renders practicable the use of same in forcing both the bottom and the head of the barrel into position.

It is evident from the foregoing that my invention facilitates the application of the bottom and head to the barrel, renders the filling thereof with truck practicable when the head is in position, and provides for quickly and economically and securely closing the head of the barrel when filled.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Abarrel provided witha head composed of a plurality of sections overlapped at their ends, curved on their outer sides to fit the barrel and having an open space between 

